“I have the temperament and the technique to score big runs,” said Aviwe Mgijima, all-rounder of Western Province and the Cape Cobras.

Mgijima is a member of the training squad that has assembled at Newlands for the high performance program under the tutelage of Salieg Nackerdien, the Cobras assistant coach, and Charl Langveldt, the new national bowling coach. The middle-order batsman said scoring his first first-class century and forcing his way into the Cape Cobras team through sheer weight of runs, will be two of his major goals for the 2015/2016-season. “I also want to bat in the top-five for Western Province in the new season and put pressure on the incumbents in the Cobras team by scoring massive runs,” he said. Mgijima reflected on the 2014/2015-season with satisfaction, saying he was happy with his form and numbers. He was unbeaten with the bat a few times, which might have explained why he did not score that evasive ton. As a bowler, he was often used in a defensive role to hold one end up, and he believes he has what it takes to excel at a higher level. Mgijima contributed 201 runs with the bat at an average of 40.20 and captured 16 wickets with a best wicket-haul per innings of four for 34. The all-rounder said during the first few days the players in the high performance training squad already benefited from the wisdom of senior Cobras batsmen Stiaan van Zyl, Omphile Ramela and Andrew Puttick. The senior bowlers Mthokozisi Shezi, Dane Paterson and Dane Piedt, also shared some trade secrets. Langeveldt is nationally revered for his expertise on bowling and on helping some of the countries’ best operators to move to the next level. Paterson captured 42 Sunfoil Series wickets in the 2014/2015-season and gave Langeveldt some credit for adding consistency to his game.